HepC positive and periodontal disease?

[fretboard]

I found out last month that my gumline may need surgery to correct and I'm currently looking into an alternative tx for that issue.  Well I thought of y'all fellow heppers and I was wondering if there's a connection with HepC positives and periodontal disease?  I've checked Pubmed but I didn't really see anything that specific, other than some trials that have been done in Egypt.  Anyone??  Anyone have periodontal disease and have to have their gumline brought down?

[DoubleDose]

Same issue here.  Need tissue grafting along front lofer gumline.  This developed over the decades in spite of regular dental and periodontal checkups, cleaning, and daily personal hygeine.  I also have had quite a few root canals, and suffer bone degeneration in some areas around rear teeth.  I must say that most of the people that I have met over the years, who have had long term HCV infection, all seem to complain of similar problems.

Maybe the systemic autoimmune effects of the virus create a situation where certain cells or tissues are prone to 'self attack', and thereby creates tissue loss or dysfunction.  The other reason might  be that the virus itself impacts a variety of cells, tissues, and organs, throughout the body.  Perhaps others on the forum can provide some input on their dental and periodontal experiences with HCV.

DoubleDose

[DoubleDose]

Meant' lower' gumline, of course.  I need to prrof my replies better.  DD

[jdwithhcv]

I've had perio surgery all over my mouth.  Actually, that surgery is one of only 2 possible exposures to HCV in my past (no IVDU, tatoos, transfusions) so I can't be sure if its a cause or an effect. I was a smoker for many years so the gum problems could be from that too.

jd

[lapis]

Yep.  Periodontal disease, diagnosed in 1993.  Had a gum graft from the roof of my mouth to lower front right, also "deep scaling" done by incising the gums and cleaning underneath them, this left stitches in between the teeth, so I think it's the same thing you're talking about.  Like jd, I wonder if my periodontal surgery is actually how I acquired HCV, though I also worked in areas of the hospital where I had high exposure to blood and body fluids. Diagnosed with HCV in 1996.

In spite of daily flossing and brushing, dental cleaning every 3-4 months, and taking care of my teeth carefully since my 20's, I have this dental issue I cannot resolve, with multiple caps, fillings, and few root canals.  The best I can do at this point is to keep things as they are.  I was told I do not have enough bone in my lower jaw to be eligible for dental implants (when a tooth had to be pulled).  That could be related to having had braces twice.

I'm waiting for one of the sci-fi stories to come true, where they will be able to implant "tooth buds" into the gums and brand new teeth will grow : )  Sounds awesome, huh?

During tx my gums were chronically inflamed.  I think the anemia, because of the decreased oxygen in the bloodstream (since O2 latches onto Hgb), really does a job on the gums, and causes the mouth sores as well.  The condition of my mouth has improved since I finished tx 3 mos ago.

[epiphiny]

Yes, I have gum and teeth issues too, despite being hyper vigilant with oral hygiene and having regular deep root planing every 3 months.  I do think there is a link as those with the virus suffer more from reduced saliva flow associated with Sjogren's Syndrome and even more so while txing.

My mouth really hurt during tx also, achingly so at times, but as lapis said my mouth and gum health has improved since finishing tx 12 weeks ago, altho I still have pain from time to time.

[Trish77]

In general they say half the population will have trouble with teeth and the other half will have trouble with gums.  So how much of that is the natural way of things and how much of that is actually HCV-related, I don't know.  I've had virtually no cavities at all but definitely periodontal issues.  That could have been reduced if I hadn't had such a fear of the dentist over the years.

[fretboard]

I appreciate the responses, I'll be getting a second opinion sometime soon as I'm not doing well with this new diagnosis.  I mean I had heard all along that my pockets in my gumline were deeper than they should be but I truly didn't expect that it would come to a reduction of my gumline.  It really doesn't end there as my dentist has recommended that I have an artificial bone placed in the area of my two front teeth, this is the part I'm having trouble accepting.  Two out of the four front teeth are supposedly toast and so is the bone.  I don't want nothing done to my grill, I mean my teeth in front may be toast, but they're my toast and I want to keep them until they fall out even if one of them is a crown.lol  Anyways, more to be revealed I'm sure especially if I have the gumline reduction. I'm thinking I will have my worse side done and take it from there, as far as my front teeth go I really do believe they can wait a bit.  I think some dentists and their cronies push this preventive dentistry idea a bit too far, just my opinion.  

[Trish77]

Okay, I wasn't going to say this because the mental picture is not that great...but I'll 'fess up considering your situation... and because it's you. :)

While I was on tx, one of my four front bottom teeth fell out.  It has been sitting in there hanging by a gum thread for at least a couple of years and propped up by the other teeth and nobody but me could tell.  (I had great fun wiggling it at my daughter sometimes though because she'd go "yewwwwwww" and I loved making her do that. :)  Well, while I was on tx, that tooth suddenly lost it's last hold and out it came.  It didn't look very good at all because the other teeth suddenly had a little space and they shifted a bit...not pretty. I smiled with my mouth closed for awhile, very self-conscious.  When I went to the dentist and they checked out my bone, they said that just putting one artificial tooth in there wouldn't cut it and that it was a matter of time before the other three came out.  So.....they pulled the four bottom teeth, fret. It took me awhile to come to grips with that.  I was not at ALL happy about that.  However, that tooth was already gone and it was either go with that or keep that awful arrangement I was left with.  So..I got fitted for a denture and they pulled those teeth.  And now I have the gaping hole of an old person in there but a four-tooth denture that sits in there really well.  It was really well done and you CANNOT tell.  They're even done imperfectly so that it doesn't stand out.  They look MUCH better than the four teeth that were in there before.  

They're not sure if I can get a permanent implant.  They said that it depends on how much more my bone deteriorates and how all the work they did and the fact that I don't have a dying tooth in there anymore will improve the health of things.  I might be able to get a permanent implant but at least for now the denture keeps me from looking like a homeless person or older than I am.  

Gotta tell you though... I love popping it out for my daughter because she still goes "yewwwwwww" and I still love making her do that. :)

The denture itself was uncomfortable at first but now I don't even think about it most of the time. I can chew steak and bite through a burger just fine but have a hard time with ripping things like hard bread as efficiently as I used to so I have to accommodate that.  Sometimes, food particles get caught up inside the denture and I have to pop it out in stealth mode.  Almost got caught at my desk in the office once - I wonder what that guy thought I was doing with my hands in my mouth...trying not to scream???  lol  :)

I'm hoping they tell me I can have permateeth.  If not, well...it is what it is.  Too late to go back and change it now.  I can still do the "important" things and my sometimes-partner hasn't noticed and ...well...I'll leave that up to the imagination and that's all I'm gonna say 'bout that. ;->

Good luck with that, Fret.  

[epiphiny]

Well, now that we are being totally honest with each other, I had a similar thing happen as a result of my previous tx. My lower four front teeth were very wiggly and during my first tx became more so.  They really hurt as well and I knew it was just a matter of time before I would lose them.  The solution my dentist and I came to was to create a bridge/crown construction which involves the 2 wiggly teeth on either side being crowned and bridged to the non wiggly ones.  In essence, 2 bridges of 3 teeth each but my original roots are still in there.  Works fabulously and I feel (and look) so much better.

Prior to that solution I had a stabilizing brace fitted behind the wiggly teeth that was anchored to the non-wiggly teeth.  Can't say I liked it but it served a purpose until I was able to take more permanent measures.

Also had issues on this tx with my one of molars and it had to be removed.  No probs there but I do think the meds hurried the situation along.

Like you Fret, I do think the dentists push for the preventative measures early on and that it doesn't necessarily change the eventual outcome, rather just prolongs it.

Good luck!

[Rockerforlife]

The case study of six patients is published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Periodontology.

“Patients have a less invasive treatment option for receding gums and we now have evidence to support the stability of this relatively painless procedure. Instead of leaving the dental office with stitches in the roof of their mouth, a patient leaves with a small bandage on the arm that can be removed in an hour,” said Terrence Griffin, DMD, associate professor, chair of the department of periodontology, and director of postdoctoral periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090701102910.htm

[fretboard]

I'll leave that up to the imagination and that's all I'm gonna say 'bout that. ;->
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Sounds like you're a very talented lady Trish. smile...   I'll find out more about this as I go along.  I've talked to a couple of ppl at work and out of the two who have told me about their periodontal disease they only had half their work done and never went back.  I think I can do that much.lol  There are quite a few pics of periodontal disease on the web and this disease could look hideous if untreated so I am gonna have some work done, I'm just uncertain of how much.  
thx for heads up Rock

fret  

[Hippocrates777]

I got chronic sinusitis after catching a respiratory virus. This same virus seems to have kicked off receding gums (periodontal disease)  in my mouth, skin problems,  fatigue, memory difficulties, and many others.

For more info, google "Chronic Sore Throat / Mood Virus"

[YuK]

Wow, that is an interesting article - My husband is heading down that path.  They are really making leaps and bounds on the dental front.

-staci

[donnieraye]

I also have peridontal disease and have the pain the TX can bring. Since I cannot take care of this in a timely matter, my dentist has advsided me to swish with 50-50 water and hydrogen peroxide daily.  It has helped with the pain, and bought some needed time on my dental issues.  He was extremely happy with the results at my last cleaning.  

Donnie

[alagirl]

ok - so I forgot about that.  In addition to joint probs, I now have periodontal disease.  My dentist tells me it's courtesy of interferon.  I can't tell you how thrilled I am...

[Proactive]

your story has similarities to mine. Had teeth trouble most my life, don't know as though I can blame the hep though, certainly not the tx...Maybe being a drunk until my early thirties would be a better place for the blame (lol)..as to the joint problems, I'm working on that, been walking around w/crutches on my 2 new hips for 3 1/2 weeks now!!!!! (and they still hurt!)..(not sure I would advise others to have both done at the same time, it does add additional challenges)
:*) pro

[alagirl]

see, I had no probs with my teeth before tx.  they were great.  I'm kind of more annoyed about the entire dental thing than I am about my joints because I just didn't see it coming.  So I guess I didn't get my attitude prepared in advance or something.